China solidified its control over global container shipping in 2025, with its ports handling nearly 450 million TEU and reinforcing their dominance amidst impressive growth across Asia and Europe, overshadowing US ports.
China has again underlined its grip on global container shipping, with the world’s 20 busiest ports handling close to 450 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2025, according to Paris-based Upply Market Insights. That represented growth of roughly 5 to 6 per cent from 2024, as Asian hubs continued to dominate the rankings and Chinese ports extended their lead.
Shanghai remained the clear leader, moving more than 55 million TEU, while Ningbo-Zhoushan passed the 40 million mark after another year of double-digit expansion. Shipco’s summary of the 2025 rankings put Shanghai at 55.06 million TEU and Ningbo-Zhoushan at 43 million, with Singapore in third place. Separate industry reports also noted that Shanghai reached its 50 millionth TEU milestone during the year and that Ningbo-Zhoushan’s rise reflected the strength of China’s coastal port network.
China’s dominance was not confined to the top two. Upply said the country accounted for four of the five busiest ports, six of the top ten and nine of the top twenty, with China’s ten largest ports together processing 256 million TEU, up 7.1 per cent. The report also said Shanghai alone moved more containers than the top ten ports in the United States combined, while the Beibu Gulf cluster continued to post robust gains driven by regional cargo flows.
Elsewhere in Asia, the region supplied 15 of the top 20 ports. Malaysia’s Tanjung Pelepas posted the strongest growth in the group, rising 14.5 per cent and climbing three places, while Ho Chi Minh City is expected to join the list after advancing two positions. Hong Kong, by contrast, recorded a fourth straight annual decline and slipped below 13 million TEU.
Europe’s top ten ports handled 67 million TEU, up 3.1 per cent. Rotterdam and Antwerp kept their leading positions, Hamburg benefited from stronger traffic linked to Asia, and Gioia Tauro moved up from eighth to sixth after growing 14 per cent and surpassing four million TEU. Dunkirk was the stand-out performer in percentage terms, jumping 144 per cent to 747,086 TEU and matching its 2022 high.
US ports had a more subdued year after rebounding in 2024, with combined throughput rising only 0.6 per cent to 51.6 million TEU. Los Angeles and Long Beach together handled 20.1 million TEU, with Long Beach offsetting a drop in Los Angeles. New York/New Jersey maintained third place as exports rose 6.5 per cent and imports 1.7 per cent, Houston set a traffic record, and Norfolk lost ground across all major segments.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.seanews.com.tr/article/chinas-ports-dominate-annual-box-rankings-mnrynnx8 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.xmaelogistics.com/info/china-container-ports-103078949.html – This article provides an overview of China’s port industry in 2025, highlighting solid growth across cargo and container volumes. It details the top 20 ports in China by cargo throughput and container throughput, noting that Shanghai Port retained its position as the busiest port, while Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved significant growth, surpassing 40 million TEUs for the first time. The article also discusses regional port highlights and trends shaping China’s port development, emphasizing the Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Rim regions.
- https://www.hengcheng-logistics.com/en/newsshow-96-1527-1.html – This report presents the latest ranking of China’s top 20 container ports by throughput, based on data from January to October 2025. It highlights Shanghai Port’s milestone of handling its 50 millionth TEU, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port’s annual container throughput exceeding 40 million TEUs, and the growth of other major ports. The article also notes the impressive year-on-year surge of 52.5% at Yangpu Port, attributed to the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Zone.
- https://media.shipco.com/shanghai-singapore-and-ningbo-zhoushan-top-2025-global-container-port-rankings/ – This article reports on the 2025 global container port rankings, with Shanghai, Singapore, and Ningbo-Zhoushan retaining their positions as the top three ports by throughput. It details Shanghai’s handling of 55.06 million TEUs, a 6.9% year-over-year increase, and Ningbo-Zhoushan’s handling of 43 million TEUs. The article also mentions Singapore’s record of 44.66 million TEUs, up 8.6% year-over-year, and highlights the ports’ roles in global logistics and trade.
- https://www.gtran.net/news/show/870/ – This news piece discusses the remarkable growth of China’s container trade in 2025, focusing on Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan ports. It reports that these two ports collectively handled over 90 million TEUs in the first 11 months of 2025, underscoring China’s dominance in global maritime trade. The article also highlights Shanghai Port’s 16th consecutive year at the top and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port’s surpassing of 40 million TEUs for the first time.
- https://www.porttechnology.org/top-5-china-ports-by-teu-in-2025/ – This article presents the top five container ports in China for 2025, based on official port authority statistics. It lists Shanghai Port as the busiest, followed by Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, Qingdao, and Guangzhou. The article provides insights into the container throughput volumes for each port and discusses the factors contributing to their performance, including infrastructure investments and regional trade dynamics.
- https://www.porttechnology.org/top-5-us-ports-by-teu-in-2025/ – This report outlines the top five container ports in the United States for 2025, highlighting the Port of Los Angeles as the busiest, followed by the Port of Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, and Houston. It provides container throughput figures for each port and discusses the factors influencing their performance, such as infrastructure investments, trade dynamics, and regional economic conditions.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article references a report published on 31 March 2026, which is recent. However, the content is based on data from 2025, and similar information has been reported by other sources, such as Shipco Transport Media on 17 January 2026. (media.shipco.com)
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes specific figures and claims, such as Shanghai handling over 55 million TEUs in 2025. These figures are consistent with other reports, but the exact wording of the quotes cannot be independently verified.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: The article originates from SeaNews, a niche publication. While it cites sources like Shipco Transport Media and Upply Market Insights, the independence and credibility of these sources are not fully established.
Plausibility check
Score: 7
Notes: The claims about China’s ports dominating global container shipping are plausible and align with industry trends. However, the lack of independent verification raises some concerns.